Scots team pioneering research into new friendly bacteria cure

Published on Thursday 8 October 2009 19:06

SCOTTISH scientists are pioneering research using "friendly" bacteria to develop new drugs to treat inflammatory diseases that affect millions of people around the world.

The researchers at GT Biologics, a spinout company of Aberdeen University's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, are working to create a new class of drugs that mimic the actions of good bacteria found in the gut of healthy people.

The drugs could be used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

And the research team believes it may also have the potential to help treat many other inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

It is estimated the global market for the drugs could be worth billions of pounds.

Dr Denise Kelly, head of gut immunology at the Rowett, said the drugs being developed would mimic the actions of a bacterium called Bacteriodes thetaiotaomicron, which colonises a healthy human gut. Rowett researchers have discovered it contains a protein that triggers an anti-inflammatory response.

And the researchers believe the compound will provide the route for the development of a new generation of drugs in treating a range of diseases.

She said: "We have a real opportunity to bring novel technologies to the market place."

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen University claimed: "The potential global market for the GT Biologics work – which builds on a groundbreaking discovery made at the Rowett – is estimated by some to be worth over $10 billion worldwide."